The Stars after their top line are pretty thin. The defense is much improved this season, mainly due to better play by Klingberg and Johns (and a more experienced Lindell), but also Pateryn and Hamhuis. And I suppose even Ben Bishop. So the team should be better, but what keeps showing itself is their lack of mental fortitude. How many games have they lost the lead? How many times have they fallen apart? How many times have they crumbled under some pressure or after a goal against? How many first periods have they come out flat? So why is that? Could be coaching, Hitch has probably beat these guys down hard, or could just be the wrong personalities in the mix. But it doesn’t seem like just lack of forward talent. And it for sure is the coaches responsibility to have their players mentally ready.

And all the players, top to bottom are giving good effort. No times have I’ve seen lax play or lack of interest. Tired a few games, yes. The Stars should be better.

A number of those were bankruptcy years. No coach could have won with those teams.

I got a ranch in downtown Dallas/I buy diamonds by the ton/Chase cuties in my Cadillac/Drill oil wells just for fun/But when it comes to boots, I need a deal/That will fit me right, toe to heel/So I get my boots at Western Warehouse.

You'll get no argument from me. This franchise is garbage. One of the worst in the NHL.

I got a ranch in downtown Dallas/I buy diamonds by the ton/Chase cuties in my Cadillac/Drill oil wells just for fun/But when it comes to boots, I need a deal/That will fit me right, toe to heel/So I get my boots at Western Warehouse.

Heard the Bruce LeVine and Owen Newkirk talk about the Stars season on the Norm & D show.

What went wrong:- lack of secondary scoring- nothing added at the deadline- Bishop's injury- Hanzal's injury

What they expect to happen:- minor player moves

I got a ranch in downtown Dallas/I buy diamonds by the ton/Chase cuties in my Cadillac/Drill oil wells just for fun/But when it comes to boots, I need a deal/That will fit me right, toe to heel/So I get my boots at Western Warehouse.

I got a ranch in downtown Dallas/I buy diamonds by the ton/Chase cuties in my Cadillac/Drill oil wells just for fun/But when it comes to boots, I need a deal/That will fit me right, toe to heel/So I get my boots at Western Warehouse.

Haha. Win three Cups and then miss the playoffs one time in a decade and you have to hold a press conference to quell all the people with pitchforks calling for your coach and GM's head. Slightly different bar there compared to here.

Radulov, Benn and Seguin have scored 99 goals this year. Every other Dallas forward combined: 96.

They would have a second line under a better coach, even without changing players. They would score way more goals if they'd enter the offense zone with the puck, better transition game from the defense to forwards, attacking the net more in the offense zone, instead of being on the outside of the rink.

Razor had a few interesting nuggets this morning. He said more than he usually does because this season is done.

Wheb talking about how there were only four guys who could produce offense, he said it was disappointing because there was no nternal help to be found. This was an interesting admission about the state of the young guys.

He said one reason for the offensive problems was not getting enough from Spezza. Nothing new there, but he said thing between Hitch and Spezza "soured" from the start. I don't think I've heard a Stars employee describe it that way.

Noted the team's home record was great because Hitch could pick where he played his top line. The road record was terrible because Hitch couldn't figure out how to get them favorable matchups.

Of course, he had to try to find some positive news, so he said he hopes Nichushkin adds a lot of offense next season, but he failed to mention Val has yet to provide a lot of offense at any level as a pro.

I got a ranch in downtown Dallas/I buy diamonds by the ton/Chase cuties in my Cadillac/Drill oil wells just for fun/But when it comes to boots, I need a deal/That will fit me right, toe to heel/So I get my boots at Western Warehouse.

If Val is in the NHL next year and keeps up his same scoring pace from the KHL, he'll end up with 26 goals and 44 points. That would be good for 4th in goals and 5th in scoring on the team.

However, I seriously doubt his scoring rate will translate at exactly the same level. For example, Radulov scored at well over a point a game in the KHL but is under that in the NHL, yet we consider him to be good offensively.

So I'd expect Val to end up at about 30 points total, which would put him right around Shore/Pitlick production. THE CUP IS OURS!